Officials of the Central Bank of The Gambia Wednesday, August 16, testified before the Commission of Inquiry on the financial activities of the former President Yahya Jammeh and his close associates at the Djembe Beach Hotel, Kololi.
The Principal Banking Officer of the Central Bank, Mr. Karamo Jammeh after swearing on the Qur’an, said he was appointed at the bank since 2002.
Mr. Karamo Jammeh testified before the commission in relations to Carnegie Mineral Mining Accounts.
He told the commission that the original signatories to the account were Sulayman Samba, Lamin Nyabally, Abdoulie Sallah, Kalilu Bayo, Nuha Touray and Isatou Auber respectively.
The Principal Banking Officer of the Central Bank went further to reveal both the local Dalasi and US Dollar accounts of the Carnegie Mineral Mining.
There were bundles of deposit and withdrawal papers admitted and marked as exhibits. Many of the withdrawals were signed by Momodou Sabally, former Secretary General and Nuha Touray, former Secretary to the Cabinet. Some of the withdrawals included millions of local and foreign currencies.
Among the list of payments from the account was a sum of $500, 000 which was paid to the Treasury of the Republic of Guinea Conakry on the directive of the Office of the President in 2014.
There was a payment of over D1 Million from the account as university tuition for one Sheikh Omar Bittaye in 2014. Another sum of D784, 000 was paid as tuition to London College for Isatou Darboe, former GRTS staff. All the payments were directly made to the beneficiaries from the Office of the President and were signed by Kalilu Bayo and Isatou Auber in 2014.
The Central Bank Official further revealed a directive from the Office of the President instructing the bank to give D600, 000 to each of the Regional Governors Lamin Jammeh NBR, Omar Khan CRR, Omar Sompo Ceesay URR, Salifu Puye LRR and Aminata Siffai Hydara WCR. The transaction documents showed the monies given to Governor Lamin Jammeh and Omar Khan were for the sale of meat during the Ramadan. There was purpose attached to the money given to the rest.
Meanwhile, the Central Bank Officials were asked to leave but will be called back if they are needed.
